What does נָבָא (nābāʾ) mean in the Bible?
H5012, nābāʾ, is a Hebrew verb for prophesying or speaking as a prophet. Its occurrences do not by themselves certify that a message comes from the LORD.
Hebrew · H5012
נָבָא
To prophesy , i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
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נָבָאH5012
Pronunciationnābāʾ
What does נָבָא (nābāʾ) mean in the Bible?
H5012, nābāʾ, is a Hebrew verb for prophesying or speaking as a prophet. Its occurrences do not by themselves certify that a message comes from the LORD.
Reader summary
Full entry for נָבָא (H5012) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5012?
The BSB source-word alignment has 114 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include prophesy (29), prophesying (10), and prophesy (7), prophesied (7), prophesies (7).
Where does נָבָא (nābāʾ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 11:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (40), Ezekiel (37), 1 Samuel (12), Amos (6).
What This Word Actually Means
H5012, nābāʾ, is a Hebrew verb for prophesying or speaking as a prophet. Its occurrences do not by themselves certify that a message comes from the Lord. The same verb describes Moses' elders when the Spirit rests on them, Amos when the Lord sends him, Micaiah and the royal prophets in conflict, Jeremiah's true and false claimants, Ezekiel's commissioned speech, and the prophets of Baal when their activity produces no answer. The surrounding narrative must identify the source, content, commission, and verdict of the speech. Prediction is present in some passages, but H5012 also covers warning, accusation, praise, judgment, promise, and Spirit-enabled proclamation.
Several texts make testing indispensable. Jeremiah says that some prophets ran without being sent and spoke without receiving the Lord's word. Ezekiel confronts speakers who prophesy from their own imagination and announce peace where no peace exists. Micaiah stands against a courtly consensus that tells the king what he wants to hear, while Jeremiah 28 distinguishes a promised peace by whether the word comes true. Agreement, intensity, office, music, religious clothing, or the use of the divine name cannot establish truth. Biblical prophecy is accountable to the Lord's actual speech, to covenant faithfulness, and to the outcome God Himself names.
The word also carries hope and communal breadth. The Spirit rests on elders inside and outside the expected gathering, Joel promises sons and daughters will prophesy, and Ezekiel is commanded to speak the Lord's life-giving word over dry bones. These texts magnify God's freedom and mercy rather than licensing private spiritual control. Churches should honor Scripture's prophetic witness, test present claims carefully, protect people from coercive predictions, and refuse to turn impressions into divine commands. A claimed word must never replace biblical interpretation, wise counsel, evidence, medical care, legal duty, or accountable pastoral judgment.
source_lexicongrammaticalPassage contextBook contextCanonical parallelPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
H5012 moves through Spirit-enabled speech, musical praise, resisted commission, public warning, false prophecy, royal pressure, covenant judgment, promised restoration, and the widening gift of the Spirit.
- Num.11.25
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.
The elders prophesy when the Spirit rests on them, and the event publicly confirms shared responsibility without making the experience a permanent office.
- Num.11.26
Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp.
Eldad and Medad receive the Spirit beyond the expected meeting place, showing that God's gift is not controlled by proximity to the recognized center.
- 1Sam.10.6
Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.
Saul's prophesying accompanies a Spirit-given sign of royal calling, yet the book's later course prevents treating one experience as proof of lasting faithfulness.
- 1Sam.19.20
He sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
The Spirit interrupts agents sent to seize David, turning their activity into a restraint on royal violence rather than an endorsement of Saul's purpose.
- 1Kgs.18.29
Midday passed, and they kept on raving until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no response; no one answered, no one paid attention.
The same Hebrew verb can describe the prophets of Baal in ecstatic activity, while the narrator's repeated silence denies that intensity produces revelation.
- 1Kgs.22.8
The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
Ahab judges prophecy by whether it feels favorable, exposing how power can prefer reassurance over a truthful word that confronts the king.
- 1Kgs.22.12
And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
Unanimity and confident divine language do not settle the message's truth, because the chapter tests the court's consensus through Micaiah and the outcome.
- 1Chr.25.3
From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.
Chronicles associates the verb with ordered musical thanksgiving and praise, demonstrating that its range extends beyond prediction of future events.
- Amos.3.8
The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken—who will not prophesy?
Amos presents commissioned speech as the fitting response to the Lord God's prior word, so divine initiative precedes the prophet's compulsion to speak.
- Amos.7.15
But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
Amos grounds his ministry in the Lord's taking and sending rather than professional ambition, patronage, or the permission of the royal sanctuary.
- Ezek.13.2
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Tell those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the Lord!
Ezekiel confronts prophetic activity sourced in human imagination, insisting that speakers who claim revelation must actually hear the Lord's word.
- Ezek.13.16
Those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Lord God.’
A comforting vision becomes false when it contradicts the Lord's judgment and conceals the community's actual danger under assurances of peace.
- Ezek.34.2
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord God says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
Prophetic speech holds shepherds accountable for feeding themselves while neglecting the flock, joining revelation to concrete scrutiny of leadership conduct.
- Ezek.37.4
And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
The prophet addresses the dry bones only at God's command, and the vision locates restoration in the Lord's word rather than rhetorical power.
- Ezek.37.9
Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord God says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”
The second command directs speech toward the breath so that the slain live, while the chapter identifies the restored people and preserves God as giver of life.
- Jer.23.21
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
Urgent delivery cannot repair absent commission; the Lord distinguishes energetic religious speech from a message He has actually spoken and sent.
- Jer.28.9
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, only if the word of the prophet comes true will the prophet be recognized as one the Lord has truly sent.”
Jeremiah subjects a peace prophecy to fulfillment, refusing to let a desirable outcome or prophetic title establish the speaker's divine commission beforehand.
- Joel.2.28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
The promised Spirit crosses sex and generation, making sons and daughters participants in prophetic speech while keeping the gift rooted in God's outpouring.
- Zech.13.4
And on that day every prophet who prophesies will be ashamed of his vision, and he will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive.
Zechariah anticipates the exposure of deceptive prophecy, including the abandonment of clothing used to lend false claims a recognizable religious appearance.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itprophesy29×Jeremiah 5:31, Jeremiah 11:21, Jeremiah 14:16, Jeremiah 27:10
prophesying10×1 Samuel 10:11, 1 Samuel 10:13, 1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Samuel 19:23
and prophesy7×Ezekiel 4:7, Ezekiel 6:2, Ezekiel 20:46, Ezekiel 25:2
prophesied7×1 Samuel 19:24, 2 Chronicles 20:37, Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 26:18
prophesies7×1 Kings 22:8, 1 Kings 22:18, 2 Chronicles 18:7, 2 Chronicles 18:17
who prophesy7×Jeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 23:16, Jeremiah 23:25, Jeremiah 23:26
are prophesying6×Numbers 11:27, Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 27:14, Jeremiah 27:15
began to prophesy3×1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Samuel 19:21
to prophesy3×Jeremiah 19:14, Jeremiah 26:12, Amos 2:12
who prophesied3×1 Chronicles 25:2, 1 Chronicles 25:3, Ezekiel 13:16
and he prophesied2×1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 18:10
has prophesied2×Jeremiah 25:13, Jeremiah 29:31
So I prophesied2×Ezekiel 37:7, Ezekiel 37:10
they prophesied2×Numbers 11:25, Jeremiah 23:13
were prophesying2×1 Kings 22:12, 2 Chronicles 18:11
you have prophesied2×Jeremiah 20:6, Jeremiah 28:6
And as I prophesied1×Ezekiel 37:7
and do your prophesying1×Amos 7:12
and they kept on raving1×1 Kings 18:29
and they prophesied1×Numbers 11:26
and you will prophesy1×1 Samuel 10:6
are falsely prophesying1×Jeremiah 29:9
are to prophesy1×Jeremiah 25:30
dare you prophesy1×Jeremiah 26:9
have prophesied1×Jeremiah 23:21
he has prophesied1×Jeremiah 26:11
He prophesied1×Jeremiah 26:20
those who prophesy1×Jeremiah 23:32
When he prophesies1×Zechariah 13:3
who acts like a prophet1×Jeremiah 29:26
who are now prophesying1×Ezekiel 13:2
who are prophesying1×Jeremiah 29:21
who poses as a prophet1×Jeremiah 29:27
who prophesies1×Zechariah 13:4
will be prophesying1×1 Samuel 10:5
will prophesy1×Joel 2:28
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 11:25וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּtothey prophesiedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 11:26וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּtoand they prophesiedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 11:27מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖יםtoare prophesyingVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural1 Samuel 10:5מִֽתְנַבְּאִֽים׃towill be prophesyingVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural1 Samuel 10:6וְהִתְנַבִּ֖יתָtoand you will prophesyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular1 Samuel 10:10וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֖אtoand he prophesiedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 10:11נִבָּ֑אtoprophesyingVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 10:13מֵֽהִתְנַבּ֔וֹתtoprophesyingPreposition-m | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 18:10וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֣אtoand he prophesiedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 19:20נִבְּאִ֔יםtoprophesyingVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 11:25
Aligned rows114
Books represented10
Numbers31 Samuel121 Kings51 Chronicles22 Chronicles5Jeremiah40Ezekiel37Joel1Amos6Zechariah3
Source forms
הִנָּבֵ֖א7xhin·nā·ḇêEzekiel 11:4, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 36:1, Ezekiel 36:6
וְהִנָּבֵ֖א7xwə·hin·nā·ḇêEzekiel 6:2, Ezekiel 13:17, Ezekiel 21:2, Ezekiel 25:2
הִנָּבֵ֣א6xhin·nā·ḇêEzekiel 11:4, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 36:3, Ezekiel 37:9
נִבְּאִ֥ים6xnib·bə·’îm1 Kings 22:12, 2 Chronicles 18:11, Jeremiah 27:14, Jeremiah 27:15
וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ5xway·yiṯ·nab·bə·’ūNumbers 11:25, Numbers 11:26, 1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Samuel 19:21
מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים3xmiṯ·nab·bə·’îmNumbers 11:27, 1 Kings 22:10, 2 Chronicles 18:9
נִבְּאִ֣ים3xnib·bə·’îmJeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 14:16, Jeremiah 27:10
הִנָּבֵא֙2xhin·nā·ḇêEzekiel 21:9, Ezekiel 30:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular19xEzekiel 11:4, Ezekiel 13:2, Ezekiel 21:9, Ezekiel 21:14
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural10x1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Kings 22:12, 2 Chronicles 18:11, Jeremiah 14:14
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural9xJeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 23:16, Jeremiah 23:25, Jeremiah 27:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular9xEzekiel 6:2, Ezekiel 13:17, Ezekiel 20:46, Ezekiel 21:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural6xNumbers 11:25, Numbers 11:26, 1 Samuel 19:20, 1 Samuel 19:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular5x1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:23, 1 Samuel 19:24
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural5xNumbers 11:27, 1 Samuel 10:5, 1 Kings 22:10, 2 Chronicles 18:9
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular5x1 Samuel 10:11, Jeremiah 20:1, Jeremiah 26:18, Jeremiah 32:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Record significant prophetic claims accurately, test them by Scripture and evidence, preserve the hearer's freedom, and correct error openly when harm or falsehood appears.
- Judge leadership claims by truth, fruit, justice, and accountability rather than charisma, institutional consensus, favorable predictions, or spiritual appearance.
- Protect people from predictions that pressure marriage, money, medical care, relocation, disclosure, political allegiance, or silence about abuse.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that saying 'the Lord told me' places a message beyond biblical, factual, communal, or outcome-based testing.
- Do not claim that a vivid experience, repeated agreement, musical setting, or emotional response proves divine inspiration.
- Do not claim that testing prophecy is unbelief or that declining a private directive is rebellion against God.
- Do not claim that a false or mistaken speaker may be threatened, assaulted, shunned, or denied fair process.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Inspired speech claiming divine source, encompassing both predictive utterance and exhortatory discourse.
Strong'sH5012
Lexical occurrences115 versesWord forms2 forms65 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 11:21-23Source Gloss
to prophesy , i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Inspired speech claiming divine source, encompassing both predictive utterance and exhortatory discourse.
to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) BDB: prophesy Usage: prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms65
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action54×
Sequential imperfectAmos 7:15 · Ezek 11:4 · Ezek 13:2 · Ezek 21:14 · Ezek 21:19 · Ezek 21:33 · Ezek 30:2 · Ezek 34:2 · Ezek 36:1 · Ezek 36:3 · Ezek 36:6 · Ezek 37:4 · Ezek 37:9 · Ezek 37:12 · Ezek 38:14 · Ezek 39:119×
Participle active1Kgs 22:12 · 1Sam 10:11 · 1Sam 19:20 · 2Chr 18:11 · Ezek 12:27 · Jer 14:14 · Jer 14:16 · Jer 23:26 · Jer 23:32 · Jer 26:18 · Jer 27:10 · Jer 27:14 · Jer 27:15 · Jer 27:16 · Jer 29:9 · Jer 32:316×
PerfectJer 2:8 · Jer 5:31 · Jer 23:21 · Jer 37:19 · Jer 20:6 · Jer 26:9 · Jer 28:6 · Jer 25:13 · Jer 26:11 · Jer 29:3110×
ImperfectAmos 7:12 · Amos 7:16 · Jer 11:21 · Jer 25:30 · Amos 3:8 · Jer 28:9 · Zech 13:3 · Amos 2:128×
Participle passiveJer 20:11×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others11×
Participle active1Kgs 22:10 · 1Sam 10:5 · 2Chr 18:7 · 2Chr 18:9 · Jer 14:14 · Jer 26:20 · Num 11:277×
Imperfect1Kgs 22:8 · 1Kgs 22:18 · 2Chr 18:173×
PerfectJer 23:131×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Speaking by divine inspiration, subject to opposition and judgment from adversaries
Showing 1 selected witness from 115 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
נָבָא is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H5012 does not function as a certificate attached to every prophetic act. Numbers and Samuel show the Spirit enabling speech in surprising settings, Chronicles includes musical thanksgiving, Amos speaks because the Lord God has spoken, and Ezekiel announces both judgment and life. Yet Kings, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah repeatedly use the same verb where speakers are deceived, self-sent, flattering, or opposed to the Lord.
The decisive issue is not volume, unanimity, office, clothing, emotional force, or whether a message promises relief. Faithful prophecy begins with God's word and remains answerable to His truth. Churches therefore honor the canonical prophetic witness by handling Scripture carefully, testing current claims, recording predictions exactly, protecting vulnerable hearers, correcting errors openly, and refusing to let private impressions command another person's conscience.
Joel's sons and daughters widen participation without removing accountability, and Acts locates that promise within the exalted Christ's gift of the Spirit and the apostolic proclamation of salvation.
Anchor passage
Amos.3.8
Doctrinal connections
- The Lord initiates faithful prophetic speech by speaking and sending; human urgency, office, or desire cannot manufacture divine commission.
- The Spirit's freedom in Numbers and Joel crosses expected locations, generations, and sexes without making the gift independent of God's truth.
- False prophecy often serves power through reassurance, consensus, religious appearance, or claims of peace that conceal actual danger and injustice.
- Prophetic judgment addresses rulers and shepherds whose conduct harms people, so revelation cannot be separated from covenant accountability and neighbor protection.
- Ezekiel's dry-bones vision joins the proclaimed word to God's life-giving breath, preserving restoration as divine action rather than human verbal technique.
- The canonical prophetic witness prepares for Christ and the apostolic gospel while remaining Scripture that tests every later claim made in God's name.
H5012 is a verb appearing chiefly in Niphal and Hithpael forms. The BSB renders it with prophesy language, but also as raving or posing as a prophet where the context judges the activity false or deceptive. The verb names the act; the surrounding passage identifies its source and truth.
From Old to New Testament
Joel's promise is cited in Acts 2 as Peter explains the Spirit poured out by the exalted Jesus and proclaims His death, resurrection, lordship, repentance, and forgiveness. The New Testament also commands churches to test prophecy, weigh what is said, and reject false teachers, preserving both openness to God's work and accountable discernment under the apostolic word.
Canonical parallelPastoral application